Daijiworld Media Network
Thiruvananthapuram, May 23: A Kerala nurse who died after she got infected with Nipah virus while on duty, left a heartfelt note for her husband, as she knew she may not see him again.
Lini Puthussery (31), a nurse at the Perambara hospital died writing a short note to her husband Sajeesh who works in Bahrain.
"Sajeeshetta, I am almost on the way. I don't think I can meet you again. Sorry. Please look after our little ones and take them to Gulf. They shouldn't be alone like our father. With lots of love and kisses," reads the note.
Lini, mother of two boys Hrithul and Siddharth, left for the hospital on Thursday and joined duty by 6 pm. She attended a family of three who were infected with Nipah virus and took care of them the entire night. However, the family succumbed to the virus.
Lini developed fever the next day and was tested positive for Nipah. She video called her husband but did not inform him about the seriousness of her condition. However, it is said that Sajeesh flew to India and met her in an isolated ICU before she passed away.
Lini did not allow her mother and sister to meet her, fearing that the virus would spread to them. She was cremated on Monday, immediately after she died to reduce risk of the infection being spread. Her family could not see her one last time.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Facebook, “The loss of Lini, who had sacrificed her life for nursing a patient, is a grief for all of us. Lini’s sacrifice is incomparable. It is painful that Lini met with this tragedy while she was sincerely doing her duty. We, the people of the state, share the pain and loss of Lini’s family, friends and colleagues.”
United Nurses Association (UNA) has promised support for Lina’s family and also demanded that the government should step-in and offer help to the family.
Nipah virus (NiV) infection is a newly emerging zoonosis that causes severe disease in both animals and humans. As of now 10 lives in Kerala have been claimed by the virus.
There is no vaccine for the virus yet, says the World Health Organisation. The main treatment for those infected is "intensive supportive care", according to the UN health body.
Nipah virus infection symptoms include breathing trouble, brain inflammation, fever, headache, drowsiness and delirium.